Leaders' gun battle threatens Chechen stability

Fears were growing over the stability of Chechnya yesterday after it emerged that security forces loyal to the prime minister, Ramzan Kadyrov, had fought a gun battle with the bodyguards of the pro-Russian president, Alu Alkhanov.

Two men were reportedly killed in the clash at the presidential administration, sparking fears of a broader power struggle between the groups of Chechen mercenaries who control the republic on behalf of the Russian authorities.

The exchange of fire happened during a meeting between Mr Alkhanov and a Russian official. A veteran journalist of the Chechen conflict, Anna Politkovskaya, reported that Mr Kadyrov was incensed at not being invited to the meeting.

Mr Kadyrov, 29, is the son of Akhmad Kadyrov, Mr Alkhanov's predecessor, who was assassinated in May 2004. As well as being prime minister, he is the head of a private army known as the Kadyrovtsi, whose brutal administration of Russian rule allowed Moscow to reduce its military presence in the republic.

Mr Kadyrov, already the most powerful figure in Chechnya, is expected to replace Mr Alkhanov as president in October when he turns 30, the minimum age for the post. Yesterday's reports will fuel doubts over whether Mr Kadyrov can keep a lid on the warring factions that compete to control Chechnya.

Ms Politkovskaya reported yesterday that Mr Kadyrov insisted on attending the meeting and brought his security men with him to the building's entrance, where a fight broke out. She reported that two people had died in the clash.

The Moskovski Komsomolets newspaper reported that Mr Alkhanov had banned Mr Kadyrov from bringing more than two of his private army with him into meetings. It reported that Mr Kadyrov had rung Mr Alkhanov and given him 30 minutes to flee the presidential administration as his men wanted to storm it. Both sides called for reinforcements and there was further shooting before the situation was defused. Mr Kadyrov later rang Mr Alkhanov to apologise, the paper said.

An aide to Mr Kadyrov played down the clash, saying Mr Kadyrov had attended the meeting. "It was simply a fight between two young sporty guys who don't know how to use their energy and so had a fight," he said. "No one was killed. One hit the other and he got a bruise."

One member of the Kadyrovtsi told the Guardian that four people had been injured in the clash. "Bodyguards on both sides had a quarrel about who they would let into the building, and it blew up."